Let’s start by noting that Shiracha is very, very different to sriracha. One is a smoky brown dye from the Edo period of Japan, the other is a chilli pepper hot sauce. In the context of Seiko, we are very much talking about the former – though a seconde/seconde/ collaboration that swaps them around would be fun. Why does any of this matter? Well, I’ve been hands-on with the new Seiko Presage Classic Limited Edition in Shiracha.
Taking the watch out of its box, my first thought is that this is something of a hybrid watch. Not mechanically (it’s an automatic) but aesthetically. The dial is pure dress watch with a fumé gradient design in the titular Shiracha colour, paired with brassy ion-plated bar indexes and matching hands. However, the case feels far more like a pilot’s watch.
It measures 40.2mm in diameter in stainless steel with Seiko’s super-hard coating for boosted scratch resistance, like a pilot’s watch would need banging around a cockpit all day. Admittedly it doesn’t hurt for a dress watch to also have a scratch-resistant coating but it’s not as essential. More significant than that though is the addition of a new coin-edge bezel with the same plating as the hands and hour markers.
Coin-edge bezels are typically associated with tool watches because those are the watches that you don’t want to lose grip on when adjusting them while wearing the thick gloves that a pilot or soldier might wear. The example that always comes to mind personally is the Oris Big Crown. Doubling down on that is the fact that the Seiko also has quite a big crown with an equally pronounced grip.
What I’m essentially saying is that if you were to swap the bar indexes for Arabic numerals with a coat of lume, the Presage Classic Limited Edition in Shiracha would become a vintage inspired pilot’s watch instantly. Seiko probably wanted to avoid that to some degree because keeping the bar indexes means that the watch can sit alongside its cousins in the Presage Classic range and have a family resemblance. Personally, I think it really works, keeping that dressy vibe but introducing a bit of vintage spice.
Adding to the vintage aspect of the design is the upcycled leather strap, which is the first leather strap to be presented in the Presage Classic series. I say upcycled because the leather is sourced from waste material produced by the shoe industry in order to ensure sustainability. It gives the strap a rich colour and hardwearing resilience, as the material was prepared for use in footwear. It really brings the piece together and once you get a bit of age into that strap, it’s going to look like an heirloom from your grandfather.
Powering the Presage Classic Limited Edition in is one of Seiko’s higher spec movements from the 6R line. Specifically, it’s the 6R55 automatic calibre with 72-hour power reserve, which is really solid for a £950 watch. Also, while limited edition is in the name, it’s a Seiko interpretation of the word limited, meaning there are 3,000 pieces up for grabs.
Price and Specs:
More details at Seiko.
